Latest news with #WildlifeandCountrysideAct1981
Edinburgh Reporter
6 days ago
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Cottage owner told to delay extension until after nesting season
A cottage owner has been given the go ahead to extend their home as long as they wait until the end of nesting season before removing hedgerow. East Lothian planners granted permission for the single story extension to Spilmersford Cottage, East Saltoun, which will involve using part of a paddock next to the garden. But they added a condition ensuring no work can begin without a thorough investigation showing no birds are in residence in the hedge, which will be removed to make way for the new building. Approving a change of use of part of the paddock to domestic ground and the extension to the cottage, planners said: 'No removal of hedgerows shall take place between 1st March and 31st August inclusive, unless a detailed check of the site for active birds' nests has been undertaken and written confirmation has been submitted to the planning authority that no birds will be harmed and that there are appropriate measures in place to protect nesting bird interest on the site. 'The check shall be undertaken no later than 48 hours before the commencement of the development and no site clearance or other works in connection with the development hereby approved shall commence unless the written confirmation and protection measures have been submitted to and approved in writing by East Lothian Biodiversity Officer.' The owners of the property applied for permission to extend the cottage out to its side into part of the paddock saying that they had decided against a back garden extension because they wanted to take advantage of the sunlight which came into the property from the rear. They said the single story extension which will prove additional living space would be in keeping with the style of cottages in the area and any hedgerow removed would be replaced in new landscaping. Approving the application planners noted comments from their biodiversity officer who also called for measure to be put in place to ensure no badgers were disturbed in the area, which was also added into conditions. Their report said: 'The application site is adjacent to the River Tyne Local Biodiversity Site and has a number of notable species within 200m of the property. 'The Biodiversity Officer further notes that the applicant has detailed the removal of and the intention to replace 11 metres of beech hedging, this should be detailed on any conditioned landscape plans for consideration. 'The removal of the hedge should not be undertaken within the bird breeding season. The applicant is reminded that, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (as amended), it is an offence to remove, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use or being built. 'Planning consent for a development does not provide a defence against prosecution under this act. If nesting birds are discovered after works commence, such works must stop, and a competent ecologist must be contacted for advice.' By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
North Wales Live
6 days ago
- General
- North Wales Live
Nesting birds delay work on multi-million pound training centre project
A nest of birds has temporarily held up initial site clearance for a proposed £37m fire and rescue training centre in North Wales. The presence of little ringed plovers, a protected species, has been confirmed in the area of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service's [NWFRS] proposed site at St Asaph Business Park. It is thought this could delay work by several weeks and the situation is being monitored daily. The scheme, still in its early phase, was previously hampered by the presence of great crested newts at the site. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox It was while looking into the newts issue that the nesting birds were found. The little ringed plover has a distinctive black and white head pattern. It is similar to a ringed plover described by the RSPB as a "small, dumpy, short-legged wading bird" - but smaller. It is illegal to intentionally or recklessly disturb any wild bird in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 "while it is building a nest or is in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young; or to disturb dependent young of such a bird". The matter was discussed during a meeting of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority on Monday, July 21. Members heard how quiet, manual work would be permitted in the northern part of the site, but access and any machinery-based activity was prohibited until the birds fledged. In October 2024, the members had given their "in-principle approval" to a business case for a new, purpose-built training centre at St Asaph Business Park. Assistant Chief Fire Officer Justin Evans had presented the proposal, emphasising that the current facilities were "outdated" and not meeting the standards required for modern firefighter training. The proposed centre would feature classrooms, an incident command suite, breathing apparatus, decontamination facilities, realistic fire and road traffic collision training zones, and dedicated space for multi-agency exercises. ACFO Evans told Monday's meeting that the training centre project "continued at pace". Recent activity had focused on procurement, stakeholder communications, design development, technical surveys, ecology and developing fully costed options. "Key developments" included completion of a compliant procurement process by the design consultants, contracts with Perfect Circle had been signed, and a core team for the design and build activity confirmed. The formal design process had started, and letters were hand delivered to nearby residents and businesses, advising them over the initial site clearance. The public was also invited to an open information session later this summer. "Work will be commencing in earnest. However, we have had some challenges around ecology," he said. "We've had lots of conversations about great crested newts on site and how we would need to require a licence to undertake work. "It was during preparation for that, the nest of Schedule 1 little ringed plovers was discovered near the proposed access route. "We now must avoid machinery based site clearance until the chicks fledge, likely to be late August. "We can continue with some low impact manual work elsewhere, but this constraint could extend the clearance phase by several weeks, which will see a knock-on for our programme. "We're monitoring this situation daily and we're developing our plan to mitigate any potential delay or seasonal adjustments." Costings for four different build options have included a training centre only, a training centre plus HQ, a training centre plus corporate functions, and a training centre with residential accommodation. "These scenarios will feed into our shortlist and feed directly into the outline business case to ensure affordability and value for money," the fire officer said. "We are on track for a 2027 construction start," he said, but added that the project was "not without risks". "The key risk currently is due to ecology," he said. "Uncertainty" around funding arrangements and "balancing ambitions against potential costs" also remained. It was hoped the design brief would be completed by the end of August and an outline business plan presented by mid-November. A report noted estimated costs of the facility was £37.417m, with an added life cycle cost of £3.820m over a 25-year operational period. J
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Brits warned over 'law-breaking' 30 year hedgerow rule - when not to chop
It's frustrating when a hedge starts to overgrow into your country laneway – but Brits need to beware of one important rule before whipping out their saw. Not all hedges can be cut down whenever you feel like it. According to UK government guidance, a countryside hedgerow can't be cut down if it meets three important criteria in the realm of length, location and 'importance'. Otherwise, you risk incurring an unlimited fine. The first step to checking if you can chop a hedge down is taking out your tape measure. A hedgerow is protected if it's more than 20m long and has gaps of 20m or less in its length. It's also protected if it's less than 20m long, but meets another hedge at each end. Households with bedding plants urged to act now to stop them dying You also need to take note of where the hedge is located. A hedgerow is protected if it's growing on land used for agriculture or forestry, or for breeding or keeping horses, ponies or donkeys. It's also protected if it falls on common land, a village green, a site of special scientific interest, a protected European site such as a special area of conservation or special protection area. You also may not chop a hedge down if it is in a local or national nature reserve, or on land belonging to the state. However, it's worth remembering that a hedgerow is not protected if it's either in or marks the boundary of a private garden. But how do you tell if a hedge is 'important'? A hedge is considered important if it is at least 30 years old and meets at least one other criteria. These criteria are quite specific and include marking part or all of a parish boundary that existed before 1850, containing an archaeological feature, or being completely or partly in or next to an archaeological site listed on a Historic Environment Record (HER). A hedge is also important if it marks the boundary of an estate or manor – or if it even looks to be related to any building or other feature that's part of the estate or manor - that existed before 1600. You may also not cut a hedge down if it is part of a field system or looks to be related to any building or other feature associated with the field system that existed before 1845. advises Brits to check the County Records Office for this information. You also need to check if the hedge contains any protected species listed in the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, or any that are endangered, vulnerable and rare and identified in the British Red Data books. It's also essential to check if the hedgerow includes woody species and associated features as specified in Schedule 1, Part II Criteria, paragraph 7(1) of the Hedgerow Regulations. It's worth bearing in mind that the number of woody species needed to meet the criteria is one less in northern counties
Western Telegraph
23-07-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
When Japanese Knotweed flowers in the UK and how to remove
Japanese Knotweed is one of many that can lead to your home losing value due to the damage caused. It is an aggressive plant that grows quickly, with its roots burrowing deep underground, which can sometimes be up to 3 metres down. With this, it's important to know about Japanese Knotweed, including what it looks like, when it flowers in the UK and how to report and remove it. What does Japanese Knotweed look like and when does it flower in the UK? The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) describes Japanese Knotweed as "a persistent, clump-forming herbaceous perennial". It grows "rapidly in summer and is most prominent from August to September", says Saga's home insurance and property expert Anna Thunstrom. She explained: "Keep an eye out for its characteristic shield or shovel-shaped leaves, along with clusters of creamy white flowers that bloom during late summer". However, the RHS warns that while Japanese knotweed stems die back in winter, in sheltered locations, dead stems may remain upright through the winter. What to do if I find Japanese Knotweed? While it is not an offence to have Japanese knotweed growing in your garden, it is an offence to plant or cause to grow in the wild and you should take steps to prevent it spreading. Did you know Japanese knotweed thrives by water? Removing #knotweed from places such as this requires min 2-man team and an Aqua-herb license. Hopefully our teams out on contracts up and down the country today have coped with this summer heatwave. — Japanese Knotweed Ltd (@knotweedLTD) July 11, 2025 It can also cause damage to your property, as the expert Ms Thunstrom explains: 'Japanese knotweed is particularly notorious for causing structural damage to buildings, potentially impacting the property's value. "As a result, sellers are obliged to disclose its presence." She also warns to act quick, as it could "anywhere between £1,000 to £12,000 to have Japanese Knotweed removed, depending on the garden size and severity of the infestation". Japanese Knotweed UK Law As the RHS explains: "Japanese knotweed is listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, Section 14, making it an offence to plant or cause Japanese knotweed to grow in the wild. "The penalties for offences under Section 14 include fines and imprisonment." While it is not illegal to have Japanese Knotweed in your garden, it is important to control it to prevent it from becoming a problem in your neighbourhood. As explained by the RHS as part of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, if Japanese Knotweed has a "detrimental effect of a persistent or continuing nature on the quality of life of those in the locality", property owners may be prosecuted. If problems with the plant happen in a neighbouring garden, you should be in touch with your neighbour about it before contacting your local council. How to remove Japanese Knotweed It is advised to get professionals to come and remove Japanese Knotweed. Thomson Environmental Consultants are experts in invasive species management and have experience in controlling and managing Japanese Knotweed. Craig Godbehere, a site supervisor and certified surveyor in Japanese Knotweed at Thomson, explained various control measures that can be used to manage the Japanese Knotweed on a site. These are: In-situ treatment using approved herbicides Controlled contaminated soils from the site to an approved facility using an approved waste carrier Burial at either 5m with a cap or 2m completely encapsulated Stockpiling of the contaminated soils Soil screening/sieving with potential re-use on-site 'Installation of Root Barriers' where all contamination can't be removed Mr Godbehere added: "Strict biosecurity measures should be enforced to prevent the accidental spread of the Japanese Knotweed. "All plants, vehicles, equipment, and clothing must be thoroughly cleaned before leaving contaminated areas. "Cleaning should take place in the location (or immediate vicinity) where the soil or living material originated before equipment and personnel leave the buffer zone." Recommended reading: He also explained how herbicide treatment is regularly used, as this is usually the most cost-effective option. However, he warned that herbicide treatment shouldn't be used in isolation where there is likely to be future soil disturbance around the infested area. "If this option is used, achieving the desired results may take many years," he said.
South Wales Argus
22-07-2025
- South Wales Argus
Dead pigeons found in black bags spark RSPCA investigation
The birds were discovered on Monday 14 July in the Bridge Road area of Newbridge, near the bypass and a car park. The bodies had been left in black bags and were in various stages of decomposition, making it difficult to determine how they died. RSPCA Cymru is now appealing for information. Deputy Chief Inspector Gemma Black, who is leading the case, said: 'There was a bag full of dead pigeons, around 20 to 30 of them. Unfortunately, as they were decomposing and it also appeared that wildlife or perhaps a dog may have found them it was unclear how they died, but it does raise suspicions. In any case, they shouldn't have been left in this way. It was an awful sight and is unusual to see.' All wild birds, including pigeons, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. While there are limited circumstances under which pigeons may be lawfully controlled under general licences, unregulated killing or dumping is an offence. The RSPCA is urging anyone with direct information to come forward by calling the inspectorate appeal line on 0300 123 8018 and quoting incident number 1576339. The incident comes as the RSPCA launches its Summer Cruelty Appeal, raising awareness of a seasonal spike in animal neglect and abuse. For advice on reporting cruelty or helping an injured animal, visit Graphic images below, viewer discretion advised: Dead pigeons found in black bags spark RSPCA investigation near Newport (Image: RSPCA Cymru) Dead pigeons found in black bags spark RSPCA investigation near Newport (Image: RSPCA Cymru)
